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MCAA 2015 Registrations are Pouring In!

Attention All ALI Graduates - Get Back to Babson for the ALI-G

MCAA Presses Congress for Action on Pension Reform

Time is Running Out to Nominate Your Management Innovation for the E. Robert Kent Award

Registration is Still Open for NFPA 70E Qualified-Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinars

Peer Group Wanted

Next Green Building Webinar Rescheduled

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MCAA National Update for September 22, 2014

MCAA 2015 Registrations are Pouring In!

After only two weeks since registration opened for MCAA 2015 (March 8-12, 2015, Wailea, Maui, HI), MCAA members are making their hotel and room selections early and locking them in. Don't delay making your plans because this convention will be our best yet. An outstanding array of business experts and industry specialists will help you overcome the most challenging concerns that confront your company and its operations, and excellent general session speakers will help you understand more about the broader issues affecting our nation and the world. The recreational and social events will be over the top and create memories that will last a lifetime. All the details will be available soon in the Preliminary Program. So, if you haven't yet registered for MCAA 2015, scan the beautiful Travel Planning Guide for a look at all your options. If you're looking for a more adult experience in your choice of hotels, consider the Andaz by Hyatt. A new offering this year, the Andaz provides a modern, stylish and sophisticated ambience that features beautifully appointed rooms with private lanais and garden showers, an infinity pool and the best private beach on Wailea. Go to http://www.mcaa.org/mcaa2015 to register online or use the downloadable form.

Attention All ALI Graduates - Get Back to Babson for the ALI-G

For the past few years, graduates of MCAA's flagship leadership program-the Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI)-have been asking MCAA "what's next?" The answer is ALI-G! This three-day, high-intensity experience will expose graduates to Babson's new top-notch faculty...the ones you never had...who will cover all the emerging and industry-critical topics such as Solution Selling, Branding Your Business and Decision-Making that weren't even part of the ALI curriculum when you were in the program. The other elements that make up the ALI experience are still the same: Babson's incredibly detail-oriented approach to education; the unique industry networking opportunities; the Bottom-Line Lounge; and the Woodside Dining Room. Please reserve the dates - June 18-20, 2015. Details on pricing and application procedures will appear in the National Update and at www.mcaa.org/ali soon. For more information, contact Dennis Langley (dlangley@mcaa.org).

MCAA Presses Congress for Action on Pension Reform

On Capitol Hill, progress is building for pushing pension reform through this year, with a House Ways and Means Committee Select Revenue Subcommittee hearing last week at which the Solutions Not Bailouts legislative proposals received support from several lawmakers. President Chuck Fell is urging MCAA members to e-mail their Senators and Representative, calling for Congressional action on multiemployer pension reform NOW. (It's quick and easy to do so; just go to www.mcaa.org/advocacy.) MCAA's grassroots lobbying efforts continue to gain momentum, with outreach last week to Senators from New Hampshire, Michigan and Illinois, and with upcoming meetings slated in Maryland, Ohio and Utah. While it remains difficult to predict what Congress will do after the November mid-term elections, there are increasingly signs that there could be a vigorous lame duck session where multiemployer pension reform might finally be considered.

Time is Running Out to Nominate Your Management Innovation for the E. Robert Kent Award

f you've been thinking about nominating a unique management idea for the 2014 E. Robert Kent Award for Management Innovation, the deadline is October 3. This distinguished award provides an opportunity for MCAA members to showcase their management innovations - a novel management practice, technique or method that solved a challenge in the office, the shop or at the project site - receive well-deserved acclaim and publicity and pass on to other industry businesses a way to solve management issues that have proved formidable. Named for an industry leader who believed strongly that the best ideas should be shared, the E. Robert Kent Award brings to light proven ideas that can help companies throughout our industry overcome growth-hindering business obstacles. Go to http://www.mcaa.org/awards/erobertkent for information and the downloadable form.

Registration is Still Open for NFPA 70E Qualified-Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinars

If you have employees who work with or around electrical equipment, they still have time to register for the next NFPA 70E Qualified-Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinars on September 24, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. Employees who are potentially exposed to live conductors of 50 volts of electricity or more during their workday, and especially mechanical service technicians who work on units that generate up to 480 volts, will learn safe work practices that will prevent incidents, injuries and worse. Presented by the Hilgeman Group, the session covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices, NFPA's most recent changes to the 70E requirements and provides participants with real-world accident information to reinforce the training. Contact the Hilgeman Group at ahilgeman@frontier.com to register.

Peer Group Wanted

A medium sized ($85 - $125 million) mid-western "all lines" mechanical contractor with good growth and young leadership is looking for a spot in an existing peer group (also willing to help create a new one). Our focus is commercial HVAC, industrial refrigeration and service. We self-perform piping, sheet metal, plumbing and electrical as appropriate, and are engaged in engineering and design, BIM, fabrication, new construction, retrofit and full service and maintenance. We think we're pretty good, but we're going to need help to get better. Please contact johnb@ams-pmt.com.

Next Green Building Webinar Rescheduled

MCAA's next Green Building Webinar that will focus on the challenges involved in renovating an historic building to meet high performance standards has been rescheduled for October 30, 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. The renovation involved the installation of ground source heat pumps, radiant slabs, a DOAS system, and an evaporative cooling server room. The project also had to balance building envelope improvements with the historical renovation. Leading the webinar is Matt Gregg of McKinstry Company (Seattle, WA). This webinar is free to MCAA/MSCA members as a benefit of membership. To register, go to https://mcaa.webex.com. Please contact Sean McGuire at smcguire@mcaa.org for more information.

The MCAA National Update is is a weekly publication of the
Mechanical Contractors Association of America
1385 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.
Questions? Contact Ann Mattheis, Editor, Phone: 301-869-5800; Fax: 301-990-9690